There are five senses and also five years that an informal group of citizens of Faro it makes use of all of them, to exercise its right of citizenship. Tertúlia Farense celebrated its 5th anniversary on Thursday with a dinner marked by many tributes and a new type of distinction.
At dinner time, he got to know himself more in an honoree, who had not been on the list initially released. The main promoter of the Tertúlia Farense Fernando Leitão Correia was one of the personalities chosen by the members of the informal group, but he ended up choosing to leave his name out, since he is responsible for disseminating the meetings to the Media.
The also master of ceremonies of conversations that take place almost every month on Thursdays, in different restaurants in the Municipality of Faro, was very discreet in relation to his tribute, which he thanked, preferring to focus the attention of the guests and the Sul Informação in his co-honoured ones, the Faroese bookshop António Simões and the painter and sculptor Manuel Batista.
Tributes, in 2012, were closely linked to the five senses. In addition to the arts of literature, painting and sculpture, local cuisine was also in focus. The members of Tertúlia Farense were challenged to classify with grades the many restaurants already used by the group in the last five years.
And only two achieved the excellent rating, the «Faro and Benfica”, which hosted the gathering on Thursday, and “O Estaminé”, a restaurant located on Ilha Deserta. Both were already a gastronomic reference in the city and even in the region and are now recognized by a group that, despite meeting to debate and reflect on matters of importance to the city, likes to do so after a good meal.
personality counts a lot
The two honorees external to Tertúlia Farense are well-known men in the city, although they have very different relationships with the arts to which they are connected. Manuel Batista is one of the most renowned Portuguese plastic artists, while António Simões has been dedicated to the book trade for decades, with a knowledge, passion and dedication that made him essential for those looking for special books and unable to find them on the commercial circuit.
António Simões is still resistant to a profession that few people follow, at a time when printed books are being replaced by computer editions or new digital media that simulate the reading of a book. But his work touched generations of Farenses.
The greatest compliment to the Faroese bookshop came from a heartfelt testimony. «I can't say I know it, but I've been to your store. Once, we needed a book and we went to ask Mr. Simões for it. He, as he couldn't get the book in the time he announced, didn't want to charge it. It's not for the money, but for the gesture», revealed one of the members of Tertúlia Farense.
An integrity that finds a parallel in Manuel Batista, according to Porfírio Maia, former councilor for Culture at the Chamber of Faro. While exercising these functions, the former mayor met the Farense painter and sculptor, who challenged him to manage Galeria Trem.
It was at this time that Porfírio Maia deepened his knowledge about the artist, but mainly about the person, which resulted in a friendly relationship. "Manuel Batista is as human and great of soul as the quality he has as a painter," he assured.
And at the age of five, Tertúlia reached 113 members
They don't go to all of them, but they've already been to at least two sessions at Tertúlia Farense and show willingness to participate in more. This week, the informal group of Faro citizens welcomed three new members, including the rector of the University of Algarve João Guerreiro.
The head of the Algarve university was for the first time at the gathering as a guest, as it is customary to have a speaker who gives a presentation on the subject under discussion. But he returned again in a personal capacity, as happened with many other members of Tertúlia Farense, who had their first contact with the group as honored guests.
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